If you were going to make a selfbow out of green wood, which would be easier, Hickory or Osage Orange?

Unless I was in a survival situation, I'd never make a bow with green wood, so neither.

But if you mean to 'start' a selfbow with green wood, get it to the tillering stage, dry it, then finish it, my preference is always osage, but hickory is a little easier simply because you don't have to drawknife the bark and sapwood off. If it's freshly cut during the growing season, the bark pops off hickory in one big piece to reveal the back of the bow.

Yup

^ These guys know.

I used to make walking sticks for my grandsons. Best ever was peeling bark off coppiced shoots in the spring. Like peeling a banana.

Hickory if you're in a hurry.

I figured you guys would say Hickory. I got more interested after watching a Hunt Primitive youtube video where he cut a Hickory sapling about maybe 3" or so in diameter, let it sit for about a week then he rough shaped it, peeled the bark off of it, etc. and maybe let it sit for another week and finally after working on it for off and on for another week or whatever, had it pretty much done and shooting it.

It turned out pretty good, made a 54 pound at 24" or so draw length. He has a short draw. Then in another video he killed a hog with it. I did like that he could peel off the bark and had the back of the bow done without having to use a draw knife and work down to a ring.

You need to watch green to finished hickory self bows in three days that rivals Osage bows. Doug Shannon,and Thad Beckem. Fire hardening Utube.

I've made bows from both. Hickory makes fine bow no doubt, Osage is king though nothing better.

Does Osage require a backing?

No. You chase the first good heart wood ring. That will be your back if you are making a self bow. If the rings are so thin that you can't get one chased then you can back with sinew. Either way makes a fine bow.

Ok, good to know.

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